If I’m brutally honest, I don’t think England really looked like scoring a try against South Africa

Sir Clive Woodward

Robshaw’s decision-making was spotlighted for a second successive weekend as South Africa escaped from Twickenham with a win.

The skipper instructed Owen Farrell to kick at goal when England trailed 16-12 with just over two minutes left.

A week earlier, Robshaw had decided not to take the points on offer and go for the try as England chased the game against Australia.

This time Robshaw decided a quick penalty kick would allow England enough time to gather the restart, get back downfi eld and put themselves in a position to win the game.

They have now lost to Australia and the Springboks in quick successsion with world champions New Zealand to come at HQ on Saturday.

Farrell disagreed with the decision and urged Robshaw to kick for the corner but Woodward said that was no time to question the captain.

“It wasn’t a time for big debate,” said Woodward. “If he goes for goal, you have to do that kick within 10 or 15 seconds. So if they’d done it quickly, it absolutely is the right decision.

“Also, if I’m brutally honest, I don’t think England really looked like scoring a try against South Africa.

“But if you’re going to slow the ball down and debate about it then they should have gone for the lineout and given it a go.”

Robshaw asked referee Nigel Owens whether he could change the call but the signal for the kick had already been made.

Woody also backed Robshaw as England’s captain for the Six Nations but urged him and coach Stuart Lancaster to ensure the squad are more unified.

“Robshaw is a fantastic player and a fantastic captain and the right guy to be captaining England,” Woodward said.

“When you’ve got people from different clubs coming together, the art of coaching and the art of captaincy is different. You’ve got to find ways of making sure everyone’s on the same page very quickly.”

England won the physical battle with South Africa but conceded a freak try to Willem Alberts and again lacked a cutting edge in attack.

But chief coach Lancaster also defended Robshaw saying: Lancaster said: “The purpose of having a captain in a team is that he makes decisions and the players back him. That’s what should happen.